Cherished
Silver Meritorious Patron
I'm an Anon. Never been a scientologist. I got interested in scientology when the Cruise 2004 video was released last year. I still recall that first night when I discovered the court documents on xenu.net. I couldn't stop reading about Paulette Cooper and Snow White and Lisa McPherson and Hubbard's death. I needed to see the court docs and official FBI docs in order to believe that this was for real. My social justice reflexes were quivering with anger. But I'm in Australia and it all seemed so remote.
Enter Anonymous. I happened to pass the television on February 9, just as a story about the Anon "Message to Scientology" vid and forthcoming protest was on. I was immediately intrigued. Intrigued enough to head straight for the computer to locate the video. That led me quickly to enturbulation.com and I was immediately hooked.
Some of you will remember that first weekend. There was certainly huge anticipation of the protests, but no one - NO ONE - expected the turnout. First reports started to drift in from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide. Then pics and videos. I have goosebumps right now, just typing this. Across Asia and into Europe - my God, London! 700 of those beautiful bastards with posters saying "Down with this sort of thing" - such a British thing thing to say.
As the threads sizzled with views and comments from all around the globe, you could almost hear the jaws dropping as it began to sink in what had been achieved. Almost as quickly, the press reports began to roll in. In an obviously coordinated response, Scientology PR officers around the globe began to trot out the same patter about Anonymous being "cyber terrorists" and the CoS wanting to be protect their "parishioners".
Of course, we hadn't hit the home of Scientology yet, and the buildup was phenomenal as US Anons who had slept (and some hadn't) woke to the news and images of protests that had gone before them, bid us a goodbye and "wish us luck" and headed off to their own event. So. Many. Cities. 108 in all across the world. LA was extraordinary. The city had arisen. The world had arisen and said - No more.
Do you remember gas mask girl? Just one of the many images that immediately became immortalized and a meme. Creative and funny people, high on adrenaline, were pumping out images and jokes and serious posts about how to handle any trouble the Scientologists gave us, or the police. In between, I was reading posts and learning about Scientology and about Anonymous. This was a heady time.
During the next few weeks, we started to hear the first feedback from ex-Scientologists. It was moving and startling and many, many times, people posted the words "THIS IS WHY". Voiceless were among the first: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nO_kcUCQSl8&feature=player_embedded
Sure, the lulz were the motivating energy, but there was also great anger at the suppression of free speech - the CoS suppression of both the Cruise vid and the dissent of its own members and former members. The Voiceless video was the first real indication I had that the mere fact that people spoke out against the abuses of the CoS could make a difference in the lives of those who had been "shuddered into silence".
I was in.
I won't go through the whole year. Too many moments to recount. Too many images that spring to mind - like the riot police in DeKalb County, GA, manipulated by the CoS lies - firming up my resolve to do something to fight for those who felt unable to fight for themselves. Gradually, exes began to speak out who hadn't felt able to before. The fear so many had was palpable. The woundedness was evident. Like many Anons, I cried.
The giants of the "Old Guard" were becoming known to me, together with the vast libraries of resources they had assiduously gathered and which fed Anonymous' voracious appetite for MOAR. Without the information, the stories, the affidavits, the newspaper reports, the financial statements, the explanations of the Scientology terminology and mindset, Anonymous would have had a fun time for a while, but our protests and communications couldn't have developed with the depth of understanding and EVIDENCE that they did to expose the CoS, nor been sustained.
At some point, perhaps mid-year, I began to lurk on ESMB. The New Member Introductions forum has always been my favourite. Every time a new ex came along and told their story - especially all of you who have come out recently - I was moved and motivated and re-energised for the fight. Your story-telling has been healing for you, both the telling and the hearing. For me, listening as you shared your own story and the effect it was having upon you to tell it and to read the responses and the stories of others felt like I had been allowed the privilege of sitting in on an intimate moment. ChaoticPsychotic, FormerlyIn, dt2000, Carmel, Genny, Twin A...
I was there as the numbers of ANZO exes grew and grew and become a flood. I was there as the thread about crimes and wrongdoings got going and became so very serious, and the deaths of scooter's children were mentioned and grieved over. And then scooter himself came aboard, free now of the CoS. I wept as you shared your story, scooter. I wept as the abortions were talked about and the child abuse and as, together, you processed the abuses, the missed opportunities, the lies and the guilt.
I am someone who has a lot to say. But I haven't been able until now to register here. It felt to me as if what was happening during that time in particular was almost sacred. I still feel that way. I think I won't post much here, but I want you to know just how powerful it is that you have allowed your stories to be shared with the world. You'll never know how many people you have touched.
Thanks.
Enter Anonymous. I happened to pass the television on February 9, just as a story about the Anon "Message to Scientology" vid and forthcoming protest was on. I was immediately intrigued. Intrigued enough to head straight for the computer to locate the video. That led me quickly to enturbulation.com and I was immediately hooked.
Some of you will remember that first weekend. There was certainly huge anticipation of the protests, but no one - NO ONE - expected the turnout. First reports started to drift in from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide. Then pics and videos. I have goosebumps right now, just typing this. Across Asia and into Europe - my God, London! 700 of those beautiful bastards with posters saying "Down with this sort of thing" - such a British thing thing to say.
As the threads sizzled with views and comments from all around the globe, you could almost hear the jaws dropping as it began to sink in what had been achieved. Almost as quickly, the press reports began to roll in. In an obviously coordinated response, Scientology PR officers around the globe began to trot out the same patter about Anonymous being "cyber terrorists" and the CoS wanting to be protect their "parishioners".
Of course, we hadn't hit the home of Scientology yet, and the buildup was phenomenal as US Anons who had slept (and some hadn't) woke to the news and images of protests that had gone before them, bid us a goodbye and "wish us luck" and headed off to their own event. So. Many. Cities. 108 in all across the world. LA was extraordinary. The city had arisen. The world had arisen and said - No more.
Do you remember gas mask girl? Just one of the many images that immediately became immortalized and a meme. Creative and funny people, high on adrenaline, were pumping out images and jokes and serious posts about how to handle any trouble the Scientologists gave us, or the police. In between, I was reading posts and learning about Scientology and about Anonymous. This was a heady time.
During the next few weeks, we started to hear the first feedback from ex-Scientologists. It was moving and startling and many, many times, people posted the words "THIS IS WHY". Voiceless were among the first: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nO_kcUCQSl8&feature=player_embedded
Sure, the lulz were the motivating energy, but there was also great anger at the suppression of free speech - the CoS suppression of both the Cruise vid and the dissent of its own members and former members. The Voiceless video was the first real indication I had that the mere fact that people spoke out against the abuses of the CoS could make a difference in the lives of those who had been "shuddered into silence".
I was in.
I won't go through the whole year. Too many moments to recount. Too many images that spring to mind - like the riot police in DeKalb County, GA, manipulated by the CoS lies - firming up my resolve to do something to fight for those who felt unable to fight for themselves. Gradually, exes began to speak out who hadn't felt able to before. The fear so many had was palpable. The woundedness was evident. Like many Anons, I cried.
The giants of the "Old Guard" were becoming known to me, together with the vast libraries of resources they had assiduously gathered and which fed Anonymous' voracious appetite for MOAR. Without the information, the stories, the affidavits, the newspaper reports, the financial statements, the explanations of the Scientology terminology and mindset, Anonymous would have had a fun time for a while, but our protests and communications couldn't have developed with the depth of understanding and EVIDENCE that they did to expose the CoS, nor been sustained.
At some point, perhaps mid-year, I began to lurk on ESMB. The New Member Introductions forum has always been my favourite. Every time a new ex came along and told their story - especially all of you who have come out recently - I was moved and motivated and re-energised for the fight. Your story-telling has been healing for you, both the telling and the hearing. For me, listening as you shared your own story and the effect it was having upon you to tell it and to read the responses and the stories of others felt like I had been allowed the privilege of sitting in on an intimate moment. ChaoticPsychotic, FormerlyIn, dt2000, Carmel, Genny, Twin A...
I was there as the numbers of ANZO exes grew and grew and become a flood. I was there as the thread about crimes and wrongdoings got going and became so very serious, and the deaths of scooter's children were mentioned and grieved over. And then scooter himself came aboard, free now of the CoS. I wept as you shared your story, scooter. I wept as the abortions were talked about and the child abuse and as, together, you processed the abuses, the missed opportunities, the lies and the guilt.
I am someone who has a lot to say. But I haven't been able until now to register here. It felt to me as if what was happening during that time in particular was almost sacred. I still feel that way. I think I won't post much here, but I want you to know just how powerful it is that you have allowed your stories to be shared with the world. You'll never know how many people you have touched.
Thanks.
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